← Back to Clinical Trials
Recruiting NCT05011877

NCT05011877 The Simplify Project

◆ AI Clinical Summary
Plain-language summary for patients
Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT05011877
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor Unity Health Toronto
Condition Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure
Study Type OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment 50 participants
Start Date 2021-09-01
Primary Completion 2026-07-01

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type OBSERVATIONAL
Interventions
High-flow nasal cannula therapy

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.

This trial targets 50 participants in total. It began in 2021-09-01 with a primary completion date of 2026-07-01.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

The high frequency of unplanned hospital visits of patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity-related hypoventilation) constitutes a major public health problem. Most patients admitted for acute exacerbations (AHRF) have additional comorbidities, especially sleep disorders. Often untreated, sleep disorders contribute to multiple readmissions (≈70% at one year) and increase readmission costs. The investigators will: 1) identify these patients early during unplanned hospital admissions and perform sleep studies using EEG and oximetry before hospital discharge and two months after to compare sleep abnormalities in the two moments; 2) investigate the association between sleep abnormalities in the two sleep studies with clinical outcomes (1-year readmission and death); 3) investigate the acute effects of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) to treat sleep abnormalities as a simplified alternative. The investigators anticipate sleep abnormalities during the hospital stay and two months after discharge will be associated with poor clinical outcomes (readmission, death) and HFNC to acutely reduce sleep abnormalities.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients requiring an unplanned hospitalization or emergency room visit due to an acute hypercapnic respiratory failure exacerbation (AHRF), not on home noninvasive or invasive ventilation, neuromuscular disease (e.g., spinal cord injury) or central nervous system disorders (e.g., cerebral vascular accident, Alzheimer), absence of tracheotomy, and non-morbidly obese. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with AHRF due to drug overdose * Ventilatory support (noninvasive or invasive ventilation) is needed before or during the sleep studies or if an acute deterioration (e.g., cerebral vascular accident, cardiac arrest) happens before or during the sleep studies.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Laurent Brochard, MD, PhD

✉ Laurent.Brochard@unityhealth.to

📞 416-864-5686

Principal Investigator

Laurent Brochard, MD, PhD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT05011877 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT05011877 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT05011877 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at Laurent.Brochard@unityhealth.to for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT05011877 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Toronto, Canada.

Who is sponsoring the NCT05011877 clinical trial?

NCT05011877 is sponsored by Unity Health Toronto. The principal investigator is Laurent Brochard, MD, PhD at Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital. The trial plans to enroll 50 participants.

Related Trials

ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: September 2026  ·  Data Methodology